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Dallas
Oct. 5, 2007
High-powered Cowboys offense has to overcome slow starts
Updated as of 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7
It’s hard to complain about an offense that through four weeks averaged 37.8 points and 440.8 yards, both league bests heading into Week Five. But prior to their Monday-nighter vs. the Bills, the Cowboys’ first-quarter woes have been unmistakable. Of the team’s 151 points and 1,763 yards, only six of those points and 191 yards have come in the first quarter. So what’s the deal? “I think the one thing that has really stood out is that we get a lot of penalties or we get a sack early in the game like at Chicago (first play from scrimmage), so we’re putting ourselves in a lot of 3rd-and-18s and 2nd-and-20s, 1st-and-15s,” TE Jason Witten told PFW. “It really makes it hard for us to overcome. That’s something we’re really working on as an offense.” Witten said the team’s play-scripting and play-calling to start the game has not been the problem, either, but he does credit new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett for being able to adjust the team’s offensive approach as the game goes on. “He does a great job of communicating well and seeing what teams are doing against us,” Witten said. “The Chicago game, we came out and threw it (15 times) in the third quarter, which is a lot for us, but that was because of what (the Bears) were giving us. He’s willing to change the plans some and adjust based on what we see.”
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NY Giants
Oct. 5, 2007
Giants’ defensive wrinkles aren’t a full-time option
Much has been made of new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive creativity, lining up four natural defensive ends — Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka, who has been starting at strong-side linebacker — on the same defensive line. In obvious passing situations, the alignment is scary. Tackles must handle Strahan and Umenyiora outside, and the guards and center have to contend with the quickness of Tuck and Kiwanuka inside. The Giants also like to run stunts and twists out of those sets, which further confuses offensive linemen blocking because all four are quick off the snap and faster than nearly any D-tackle in the NFL. That said, the Giants used that grouping more frequently against the Eagles, netting 12 sacks, because the Eagles were without Brian Westbrook and were relegated to passing on nearly every down. Note that Eagles backup RB Correll Buckhalter ran only 17 times but for 103 yards against the smaller fronts. Teams that have a strong running game, especially with bigger backs, can line up and jam the ball down the Giants’ throats when they use that smaller DL group, so expect to see less of that scheme on first downs and second-and-short or medium situations.
View all WWHI for NY Giants
Philadelphia
Oct. 5, 2007
Eagles’ depth comes into question following several injuries
Most observers of the Eagles’ Week Four loss to the Giants chose to focus on the very noticeable absences of RB Brian Westbrook and OLT William Thomas, and rightfully so. But it should be noted that backup RB Correll Buckhalter had himself a pretty strong day (138 total yards) in Westbrook’s place, and head coach Andy Reid readily admitted that leaving OLT Winston Justice out on an island without much in the way of help against one of the league’s premier pass rushers, Giants DE Osi Umenyiora, represented poor coaching. But the losses of CB Lito Sheppard, S Brian Dawkins and TE L.J. Smith should not be overlooked. All three could play in Week Six against the Jets, but the Eagles should be concerned about the depth behind them. S Quentin Mikell, Dawkins’ backup, has been acceptable, but his ability isn’t anywhere close to Dawkins’. Sheppard’s absence has left the team without a true playmaker at corner, as Sheldon Brown has been asked to cover guys he normally wouldn’t. And the TE position has produced very little — Matt Schobel and Brent Celek, the other tight ends, have combined for seven receptions and 71 yards — without Smith playing much.
View all WWHI for Philadelphia
Washington
Oct. 5, 2007
Lack of trust in Lloyd keeps Commanders thin at wideout
Updated as of 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7
The Commanders remain a bit hamstrung at wideout, with only two players at full health. Santana Moss is slowed by a groin injury, and at this point there is no indication that Brandon Lloyd is anywhere in the team’s plans. In fact, sources say that Lloyd, who cost the team two draft picks in a trade and a $10 million signing bonus with his reworked deal after it acquired him, is very close to being cut. The team signed 37-year-old Keenan McCardell last week and said that James Thrash, not Lloyd, would be Moss’ backup. Thankfully, amid all the turmoil at the position, Antwaan Randle El has stepped up. Though he cooled off a bit after his 162-yard Week One effort, Randle El turned in another big game against the Lions, catching seven passes for 100 yards. Randle El has appeared to be a bigger part of the offense and has been tremendous in the YAC (yards after catch) department. It didn’t take long for McCardell to become involved in the offense, as he caught two passes for 39 yards in Week Five. Don’t be shocked if McCardell is pressed into fairly heavy duty in short order, as Thrash is a far better special-teamer than he is a wideout. As for Lloyd, he caught one pass for nine yards last week.
View all WWHI for Washington
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Oct. 5, 2007
High-powered Cowboys offense has to overcome slow starts
Updated as of 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7
It’s hard to complain about an offense that through four weeks averaged 37.8 points and 440.8 yards, both league bests heading into Week Five. But prior to their Monday-nighter vs. the Bills, the Cowboys’ first-quarter woes have been unmistakable. Of the team’s 151 points and 1,763 yards, only six of those points and 191 yards have come in the first quarter. So what’s the deal? “I think the one thing that has really stood out is that we get a lot of penalties or we get a sack early in the game like at Chicago (first play from scrimmage), so we’re putting ourselves in a lot of 3rd-and-18s and 2nd-and-20s, 1st-and-15s,” TE Jason Witten told PFW. “It really makes it hard for us to overcome. That’s something we’re really working on as an offense.” Witten said the team’s play-scripting and play-calling to start the game has not been the problem, either, but he does credit new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett for being able to adjust the team’s offensive approach as the game goes on. “He does a great job of communicating well and seeing what teams are doing against us,” Witten said. “The Chicago game, we came out and threw it (15 times) in the third quarter, which is a lot for us, but that was because of what (the Bears) were giving us. He’s willing to change the plans some and adjust based on what we see.”
View all WWHI for Dallas
NY Giants
Oct. 5, 2007
Giants’ defensive wrinkles aren’t a full-time option
Much has been made of new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive creativity, lining up four natural defensive ends — Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka, who has been starting at strong-side linebacker — on the same defensive line. In obvious passing situations, the alignment is scary. Tackles must handle Strahan and Umenyiora outside, and the guards and center have to contend with the quickness of Tuck and Kiwanuka inside. The Giants also like to run stunts and twists out of those sets, which further confuses offensive linemen blocking because all four are quick off the snap and faster than nearly any D-tackle in the NFL. That said, the Giants used that grouping more frequently against the Eagles, netting 12 sacks, because the Eagles were without Brian Westbrook and were relegated to passing on nearly every down. Note that Eagles backup RB Correll Buckhalter ran only 17 times but for 103 yards against the smaller fronts. Teams that have a strong running game, especially with bigger backs, can line up and jam the ball down the Giants’ throats when they use that smaller DL group, so expect to see less of that scheme on first downs and second-and-short or medium situations.
View all WWHI for NY Giants
Philadelphia
Oct. 5, 2007
Eagles’ depth comes into question following several injuries
Most observers of the Eagles’ Week Four loss to the Giants chose to focus on the very noticeable absences of RB Brian Westbrook and OLT William Thomas, and rightfully so. But it should be noted that backup RB Correll Buckhalter had himself a pretty strong day (138 total yards) in Westbrook’s place, and head coach Andy Reid readily admitted that leaving OLT Winston Justice out on an island without much in the way of help against one of the league’s premier pass rushers, Giants DE Osi Umenyiora, represented poor coaching. But the losses of CB Lito Sheppard, S Brian Dawkins and TE L.J. Smith should not be overlooked. All three could play in Week Six against the Jets, but the Eagles should be concerned about the depth behind them. S Quentin Mikell, Dawkins’ backup, has been acceptable, but his ability isn’t anywhere close to Dawkins’. Sheppard’s absence has left the team without a true playmaker at corner, as Sheldon Brown has been asked to cover guys he normally wouldn’t. And the TE position has produced very little — Matt Schobel and Brent Celek, the other tight ends, have combined for seven receptions and 71 yards — without Smith playing much.
View all WWHI for Philadelphia
Washington
Oct. 5, 2007
Lack of trust in Lloyd keeps Commanders thin at wideout
Updated as of 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7
The Commanders remain a bit hamstrung at wideout, with only two players at full health. Santana Moss is slowed by a groin injury, and at this point there is no indication that Brandon Lloyd is anywhere in the team’s plans. In fact, sources say that Lloyd, who cost the team two draft picks in a trade and a $10 million signing bonus with his reworked deal after it acquired him, is very close to being cut. The team signed 37-year-old Keenan McCardell last week and said that James Thrash, not Lloyd, would be Moss’ backup. Thankfully, amid all the turmoil at the position, Antwaan Randle El has stepped up. Though he cooled off a bit after his 162-yard Week One effort, Randle El turned in another big game against the Lions, catching seven passes for 100 yards. Randle El has appeared to be a bigger part of the offense and has been tremendous in the YAC (yards after catch) department. It didn’t take long for McCardell to become involved in the offense, as he caught two passes for 39 yards in Week Five. Don’t be shocked if McCardell is pressed into fairly heavy duty in short order, as Thrash is a far better special-teamer than he is a wideout. As for Lloyd, he caught one pass for nine yards last week.
View all WWHI for Washington
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